NGO condemns new Israeli expansionist plan in the West Bank

The NGO PEACE NOW condemned Israel's decision to build more than 7,000 houses for settlers in the West Bank, 3,000 of them in the E1 corridor, which would divide the Palestinian territory in two.

Israel’s Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration approved on Wednesday and Thursday to build 7,157 housing units in various settlements located in the West Bank, which has been considered illegal by the international community.

The construction of 3,645 and 4,427 homes was approved in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The main construction plans will be located in the neighborhoods of Ma’ale Adumin (1,100 houses), Kochav Yaakov (630), Giv’at Ze’ev (485), Ma’ale Amos (485) and Elazar (430).

PEACE NOW stated that the E1 plan threatens the geographical development continuity between the cities of Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and would further limit the possibility of a future Palestinian state.

The E1 corridor has an area of about 12 square kilometers, and has a key position as it is located between East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim.

The Palestinian authorities assures that in addition to connecting both urbanizations, the objective of Tel Aviv is to isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, which would also be cut in two.